Speaking from Tokyo, Tuan highlighted that FPT Software will not only supply skilled human resources but also provide GPU computing infrastructure to develop advanced AI solutions tailored specifically for Japan. "AI is one of our key growth drivers," Tuan emphasized.

In April, FPT announced a strategic partnership with semiconductor giant Nvidia, and the planned launch of new services in Japan is closely aligned with this collaboration.

FPT also aims to increase its workforce in Japan from 3,500 to 5,000 employees by 2025, signaling its commitment to growing its influence in the region.

The primary focus of FPT’s AI services will be to drive the digital transformation of financial institutions in Japan. Tuan explained the rationale behind this strategic initiative: "These institutions have vast amounts of data. Monetizing that data and creating new value through data exploitation is crucial. AI and cutting-edge technologies, such as large language models and large vision models, can help customers achieve their goals, but these require significant computing power."

At the end of July, FPT Japan inaugurated a new office in Mita, Tokyo. Tuan noted that as of March, FPT Japan employed 3,500 staff members and is on track to reach 4,000 soon. With a consistent growth rate of 40%, the company expects to have 5,000 employees by next year. Current data indicates that 63% of FPT Japan’s employees are Vietnamese, while 31% are Japanese.

In 2023, FPT’s revenue from international markets, including Japan, the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, surpassed $1 billion for the first time. Tuan disclosed that in new markets, FPT will initially pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) before expanding operations from these newly acquired companies.

Japan has been a significant market for FPT since its early days. Last year, Japan contributed 38% of FPT Software’s total revenue. The company’s clients span various sectors, including KDDI, Itochu, Panasonic, Takenaka, Fujifilm Healthcare, and Microsoft Japan. FPT has also established offices in several Japanese cities, such as Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.

"We want FPT Japan to become one of the top 20 companies in Japan. While Japan will remain FPT Software’s number one market, its contribution will be balanced with other markets, contributing 35-50% in the future," Tuan told Nikkei. In March, FPT Japan acquired NAC, a company providing market consulting, engineering, and systems integration services.

The FPT Software representative emphasized the company’s proficiency in the Japanese language when working with local companies. According to Nikkei, most FPT Software employees are fluent in Japanese, with over half having lived in Japan before joining FPT. Nearly 800 employees from Vietnam have been dispatched to Japan and trained in the language.

Tuan noted that the company aims to maintain 30-40% foreign staff in Japan and is looking to hire more Japanese employees. FPT also offers internship programs for Japanese students at FPT University in Vietnam.

Comparing FPT with Japanese companies, Tuan said, "At FPT, they not only learn theory but grow every day through learning from customers, colleagues, real projects, and the latest technologies. That’s our philosophy. The core value of FPT is speed; we always strive to shorten their learning time."

Du Lam